HMCS Winnipeg and Ottawa return to Esquimalt harbour after 5 months at sea

Two ships from the Pacific Naval fleet are returning to port in Esquimalt from a 5 month deployment in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.

HMCS Winnipeg and Ottawa left in early March for operation POSEIDON CUTLASS 17 where crews participated in a number of exercises aimed at maintaining peace and security in the Indo-Asia-Pacific, and enhancing relationships with partner navies in the region.

Among them: participating multinational task group exercises to test the ability of military equipment and groups to operate in conjunction with each other. They also took part in above and below water warfare training, and played ambassadorial roles for the ships’ company with international engagements at their ports of call.

The ships made stops in China, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, India and Sri Lanka.

The ships are scheduled to arrive Tuesday morning, and if you want to see them they should begin passing by Duntze Head at the entrance to Esquimalt harbour at 10:30 a.m.

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